Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party

Last updated

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Profile--carmelsepuloni-390x2-UNC.jpg
Incumbent
Carmel Sepuloni
since 7 November 2023
Term length No fixed term
Inaugural holder James McCombs
Formation27 August 1919

The deputy leader of the Labour Party is the second-most senior politician within the Labour Party in New Zealand. The officeholder deputises for the leader of the Labour Party at party-specific events. Unlike other political party leaders, the Labour Party's leader does not have the power to dismiss or appoint their deputy; both the leader and deputy are elected. In all cases where the leadership is vacant, the deputy leader shall also serve as acting leader until a new leadership election. [1] When the Labour Party forms the Official Opposition the deputy leader typically serves as deputy leader of the Opposition.

Contents

Carmel Sepuloni is the current Deputy Leader, elected on 7 November 2023. [2]

History

The position of deputy leader of the New Zealand Labour Party was created in 1919, three years after the party's creation. The first holder, James McCombs, was bestowed the role after he lost the draw of lots to Harry Holland in the leadership election that year. [3] It was not until 1974 that the party elected its first deputy to have been born in New Zealand, Bob Tizard. Prior to this, three deputy leaders had been born in Australia, two in England and one each in Ireland and Scotland. The Labour Party's longest-serving deputy leader, having served for 11 years, 4 months and 12 days between 1963 and 1974, was Hugh Watt.

To date, a total of seven deputy leaders have gone on to become the elected leader of the Labour Party (Savage, Fraser, Nash, Lange, Palmer, Clark and Ardern). Two deputy leaders have died in office (Skinner and Hackett).

List of deputy leaders

The following is a complete list of Labour Party deputy leaders. Some deputies served concurrently as acting party leader.

No.Leader
(Birth–Death)
PortraitElectorateTerm of OfficeLeader
1 James McCombs
(1873–1933)
James McCombs c. 1928.jpg Lyttelton 27 August 19197 February 1923 Holland
2 Michael Joseph Savage
(1872–1940)
Michael Joseph Savage crop.png Auckland West 7 February 192312 October 1933
3 Peter Fraser
(1884–1950)
Peter Fraser.jpg Wellington Central 12 October 19331 April 1940 Savage
4 Walter Nash
(1882–1968)
Walter Nash (young adult).jpg Hutt 1 April 194017 January 1951 Fraser
5 Jerry Skinner
(1900–1962)
Jerry Skinner.jpg Buller 17 January 195126 April 1962† Nash
6 Fred Hackett
(1901–1963)
Fred Hacket, 1958.jpg Grey Lynn 7 June 196219 March 1963†
7 Hugh Watt
(1912–1980)
Hugh Watt, 1951 (1).jpg Onehunga 29 April 19636 September 1974 Nordmeyer
Kirk
8 Bob Tizard
(1924–2016)
Bob Tizard, 1968.jpg Otahuhu 10 September 19741 November 1979 Rowling
9 David Lange
(1942–2005)
David Lange (cropped).jpg Mangere 1 November 19793 February 1983
10 Geoffrey Palmer
(1942–)
Geoffrey Palmer.jpg Christchurch Central 3 February 19838 August 1989 Lange
11 Helen Clark
(1950–)
Helen Clark UNDP 2010.jpg Mount Albert 8 August 19891 December 1993 Palmer
Moore
12 David Caygill
(1948–)
David Caygill, 2015.jpg St Albans 1 December 199311 June 1996 Clark
13 Michael Cullen
(1945–2021)
Michael Cullen, 2008.jpg Dunedin South 11 June 199611 November 2008
14 Annette King
(1947–)
Annette King at Onslow Kindergarten.jpg Rongotai 11 November 200813 December 2011 Goff
15 Grant Robertson
(1971–)
Grant Robertson.jpg Wellington Central 13 December 201115 September 2013 Shearer
16 David Parker
(1960–)
David Parker NZ.jpg List 15 September 201318 November 2014 Cunliffe
(14) Annette King
(1947–)
Annette King at Onslow Kindergarten.jpg Rongotai 18 November 20147 March 2017 Little
17 Jacinda Ardern
(1980–)
Ardern Cropped.png Mount Albert 7 March 20171 August 2017
18 Kelvin Davis
(1967–)
Kelvin Davis.jpg Te Tai Tokerau 1 August 20177 November 2023 Ardern
Hipkins
19 Carmel Sepuloni
(1977–)
Profile--carmelsepuloni-390x2-UNC.jpg Kelston 7 November 2023Incumbent

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References

  1. "Constitution and Rules" (PDF). New Zealand Labour Party. 2016.
  2. "Labour votes to keep Chris Hipkins as leader, Carmel Sepuloni takes over as deputy". RNZ. 7 November 2023.
  3. Garner, Jean. "McCombs, James". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 28 January 2011.